Why is Disneyland more expensive?

[Britt]

So I'm pricing out trips for my husband and I for the end of April, just the 2 of us.

Why/how is it that Disneyland is so much more expensive for the same things? Like park hopper and dining plan make the trip over $2000 where as Disney World is was $1800!!

And how on earth does the Disneylan dining plan work?? It doesn't sound/look worth it if I'm understanding it right?

 

[Mike K]

So I'm pricing out trips for my husband and I for the end of April, just the 2 of us.

Why/how is it that Disneyland is so much more expensive for the same things? Like park hopper and dining plan make the trip over $2000 where as Disney World is was $1800!!

And how on earth does the Disneylan dining plan work?? It doesn't sound/look worth it if I'm understanding it right?

It certainly is more costly than WDW but it's worth it. I trekked out there for my first time this past summer for a 10 day stay and it was incredible. I didn't bother with the dining plan because based on what I read about it here and just on my own observations, it's just overpriced and not worth it at all. Just pay as you go, it works out so much better, trust me. I hope you and your husband make it out there because it's such a great experience. I still can't believe that my first experience with Disneyland and DCA came just a week after Cars Land opened. Talk about that fresh park smell

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

I have been out there once...It was great!! I am not sure how people do 10 days there though! I was there for 3 and feel like I saw most everything I wanted to see in the two parks.

 

[Mike K]

I have been out there once...It was great!! I am not sure how people do 10 days there though! I was there for 3 and feel like I saw most everything I wanted to see in the two parks.

I came from New Jersey and I hadn't been to California in close to a decade so I booked a longer trip than normal to soak up as much of Disneyland and DCA since it was my first time there. Honestly, it worked out for me because it wasn't until the 9th day that I was starting to feel ready to go home.

 

[Skippy's Pal]

So I'm pricing out trips for my husband and I for the end of April, just the 2 of us.

Why/how is it that Disneyland is so much more expensive for the same things? Like park hopper and dining plan make the trip over $2000 where as Disney World is was $1800!!

And how on earth does the Disneylan dining plan work?? It doesn't sound/look worth it if I'm understanding it right?

You might want to re-think part of your planning. Everything I've read about the Dining Plan in California says that it is very different than Florida's, and isn't worth it.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

The DL Dining Plan works kinda like using a gift card for your meals. You get vouchers for each meal, and if you don't use the entire money value of the voucher, you lose the rest! e.g if you have a voucher that is worth $30, but your meal total is only $12, you forfeit the other $18! You don't get to carry it over to another meal. NOT a good deal at all.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I believe it's more expensive simply because California itself has higher taxes.

Don't bother with the dining plan. If you want to eat, just go to a quick service place or you can walk up to a table restaurant most of the time. We don't have many table restaurants, BTW.

Disneyland is chill. You don't have to reserve dining six months in advance. The earliest you can reserve is two months, and even that is overkill sometimes (depends on the time of year you're going). You don't have to worry about being at this place at that time. No monorails, ferries or busses to get to another park. Everything is within walking distance, including Downtown Disney. From the Disneyland entry gates, you can be in California Adventure within a minute. If you're planning a trip, don't stress. The resort is filled with people who just go to hang out for the day or for the evening. Look at it that way. Don't look at it as a vacation... More like you're just hanging out there for a few days. Hope this helps.

 

[thomas998]

So I'm pricing out trips for my husband and I for the end of April, just the 2 of us.

Why/how is it that Disneyland is so much more expensive for the same things? Like park hopper and dining plan make the trip over $2000 where as Disney World is was $1800!!

And how on earth does the Disneylan dining plan work?? It doesn't sound/look worth it if I'm understanding it right?

Not everything is more expensive. If I'm not mistaken the photopass is cheaper at DL than WDW (but I wouldn't recommend it, worst Disney pictures we ever had were from DL, lots of cut off feet, tilted horizon lines and ever some missing arms and tops of heads).

Honestly I would agree with most of the other poster here, don't bother with the dining plan. You are much better off eating on your own, and will also then have the option of eating in Downtown Disney which is pretty much right there connected to the parks, unlike WDW where you are more or less trapped in Disney's food world, at Disneyland your options are much better for non-disney food.

Also not sure where you are flying from but you should look at all the options on airfare getting there, LAX isn't the only option and it isn't always the cheapest depending on where you are starting out at, you can often save more than a couple of hundred bucks by simply being open on the airfare, something that is much harder to do at Orlando where your only options are a couple of hour away.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

I would agree not to use the dining plan. Downtown Disney has many places to eat, including Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, which has the same parent company as Via in Epcot. DD and I walked up, were seated within minutes and ate a wonderful meal there. We also tried Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, and Plaza Inn inside DL. Plaza breakfast was a traditional buffet; Big Thunder was all you can eat brought to your table. Both were good! Walked up to the Plaza and were seated, but weren't able to get a table for Big Thunder, had to make a ressie for the following day (had QS somewhere instead, don't recall much about the meal).

We didn't bother with Dining Plan because it didn't seem like a deal. If you are staying in the Disneyland Hotel, it is a short walk through Downtown Disney to both parks, or you can ride the monorail (it takes longer to ride the monorail than to walk). Heard many great things about Cafe' Orleans, but did not eat there.

 

[Britt]

You guys are awesome!! Thank you so much, that actually helps a great deal

 

[Californian Elitist]

You guys are awesome!! Thank you so much, that actually helps a great deal

Hope you and your adorable boys get to go!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Ditto on the dining plan...all of my Cali friends say it's nothing like the one at WDW and really isn't worth it. I checked it out a bit last year and yea, not worth it. It's also recommended that you skip the 3 Disney owned hotels unless you plan on splurging...that the Good Neighbor hotels are what most people in the area do. Also, last friend that went bought their tickets at a gas station or something like that. Since the park is frequented more by locals, I guess local business offer discounted tickets...i.e. you're going to be paying more buying directly through Disney.

Ultimately, it's a totally different beast and you might be best looking into some the Disneyland specific books and forums since it's got its own host of tips and tricks for saving.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Like others have said, the Disneyland dining plan is a scam. The best case one in a million scenario is that you break even by spending the exact amount of money that you're given in vouchers. Maybe that evens out the price more? The tickets at DL are actually cheaper than WDW: $290 for an adult 5-day hopper @ DLR versus $346.13 for a 5-day hopper @ WDW. No tax on theme park tickets in CA. Unfortunately, you can't buy more than a 5-day pass at DLR without going up to the annual pass right now, but that may change with the way they are clamping down on the ticket resellers.